Craft received 30 years for his convictions on two counts of using arson to intimidate in violation of federal civil rights laws.

Authorities said those fires intimidated a black man and a Hispanic family.

CraftÂ?s sentences on the other arson counts run consecutive to the 30 years.

Â?I think it was appropriate for the sentence to be very long because of the danger posed by these offenses,Â? said Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Schmid. He noted victims and the entire neighborhood were put in fear by CraftÂ?s activities.

A jury convicted Craft of the eight charges after a four-day trial in June.

He claimed in court today he is innocent.

He was indicted in February for the string of fires started between January 2005 and January 2006.